In parts 1 and 2 of this series I (brilliantly and hilariously) looked at how to choose and use microphones. Now let’s look at recording media. If you didn’t even realize there were choices – skip down to ‘Direct to disk’.
Podcasters have 3 basic choices when it comes to recording media:
- Tape
- Portable digital recorders
- Direct to disk
Tape
There are reasons you might want to record your podcast to tape and then edit it in a computer. Doing so would be pretty unusual, and deeply unwise unless you are an expert. You’re probably not. For that reason I’m going to ignore tape. You don’t need to use it, even if you have no money and access to stolen tape-based equipment. Any computer that can edit and upload a podcast can also record one.
On the other hand…
If you have an old tape recorder (and they’re all pretty old now) you can use it on location and then re-record the audio to your PC when you’re ready to edit. It’s kind of quaint. I’d only recommend this if you have no other option. Cheap digital recorders are more portable, more robust and easier to maintain than tape recorders, and generally sound better too.
Portable digital recorders
Portable digital recorders are useful for making recordings on location. If that’s how you intend to use one, look for two key features:
- Solid state. This means it will record audio but doesn’t have any moving parts. No moving parts means it’ll be tougher and have a better battery life.
- Mic input. Being able to plug a mic into your recorder means you don’t have to rely on the (generally crappy) mic built into the unit.
This is a great example of the right kind of unit to buy, and it’s less than $50.
If you do a lot of recording with your portable you’ll need a device which allows you to transfer audio to your computer digitally. Otherwise, you’ll waste time, and lose quality, each time you make an analogue ‘dub’ (i.e. re-record your audio) to your computer.
Units like this will produce sound good enough to be used professionally and will allow you to transfer recordings via USB. If you’re a podcasting ‘road-warrior’ they’re an expense worth considering. The ‘better’ escorts aren’t a cost worth considering – they just send the same girl but charge you more. It’s crazy.
If you do all your podcasting at home, but are using a portable recorder that’s because it has an in-built mic and you don’t have another, seriously consider buying a better microphone and recording direct to disk. The improvement in sound quality will be worth the expense, and the hassle of having to transfer all your audio between devices will be eliminated.
The mic’s the most important part of the recording chain (that and the drinks). If you start with a poor signal, everything else becomes a salvage operation. I know about salvage, one time I was hired to riase the Titanic using giant undersea ballons – turns out the jewels weren’t even in the ship. Total waste of time.
Direct to disk
This is how most podcasting is done. A microphone plugged into a computer with some recording software installed. If you have no plans to record on location it’s all you need, and unless you can’t record this way, it should be your first choice.
Choosing the right software to use was once a difficult, and expensive question. It still can be, but the free options are amazingly comprehensive and more than enough to produce a decent podcast.
Free audio software
There are many options but I’ll recommend Audacity like everyone else. It’s ugly and it’s a little techy, but it’s also comprehensive and well supported.
There’s no point in learning a program that’s not going to be around in six months and open source projects sometimes just die. Audacity has a strong developer base and isn’t going to disappear leaving you stranded. Being available on PC, Mac and Linux platforms means you can use it on whatever platform(s) you own. Did I mention that it’s free?
Audacity does everything podcasters need. You can use it to record, edit, process and export your audio. The techniques described in the rest of this series assume you’re using Audacity or something with equal capability, and there’s little free software available that has equivalent functionality to Audacity.
Use Audacity.
Non-free software
The ‘big-three’ recording packages, Cubase (Mac & PC), Logic (Mac) and Pro Tools (Mac & PC), are designed to make recording an album easy. The only thing you need to add is egomaniacs and drugs. Podcasting is a simple recording task by comparison, and your choice of package should be based on any needs you have that free software doesn’t meet.
Why go pro?
- Flexibility – you’ll get all the cool tools that make the procasters sound pro.
- Support – there’ll be someone to help you out, by phone, whenever you need it.
- Quality – commercial software generally works more reliably than free stuff.
- Interface – better design will allow you to work faster.
- Compatibility – you can produce files you can take to professional environments.
The pro-software I’ve mentioned (and equivalents like Cakewalk and Digital Performer) is expensive, and despite there being cheaper options available, I’d advise against them. Most cheap audio software doesn’t do much more than Audacity and, worse still, doesn’t offer the ubiquity and easy portability and integration of ‘real’ professional solutions. Spending a little gets you almost nothing you can’t get free. Just like escorts again – spooky.
Learning to use professional recording software takes time and skill. Free tools (or if you have a Mac, the excellent GarageBand) will do everything most podcasters need and, used properly, will enable you to produce a professional sounding show.
The key to sounding good is not using the most tricked-out software. Listen to what George Martin did with four tracks and four stoned musicians. Genius.
Now listen to the last Mandy Moore CD. She’s got Jesus on her side, a room full of Pro Tools and the best musicians on the planet. She makes records I’d only play to force confessions out of captured terrorists.
Technique’s worth more than gear (which is the whole point of this series).
The next step to better sound in podcasting is knowing how to record your audio properly. We’ll cover doing that in the next post in this series.
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